The Becoming mBODYed Podcast

Breaking Barriers in Music: Accessibility and Innovation in Piano Playing With Alexis Barton and Kenneth Thompson

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2386835/open_sms] This episode explores innovative approaches to accessibility in music education, focusing on the importance of body awareness, ergonomic instruments, and challenging traditional norms. Guests Ken Thompson and Alexis Barton share personal stories, technical insights, and practical solutions to make music more inclusive and physically sustainable.  key topics * The importance of space and absorption in learning * Introduction to narrow-sized keyboards and their benefits * The role of body size and ergonomics in musical performance * Overcoming physical barriers and injury prevention * The psychological and emotional journey of redefining musical identity * The resistance to innovation in traditional music education * The neurological basis of muscle memory and adaptation * Resources and community support for accessible instruments   Becoming mBODYed is a production of and copyrighted by mBODYed, LLC, 2024. www.mbodyed.com [https://www.mbodyed.com] Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/ [https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/] and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566020594221 The intro and exit music is Dark Matter by Carlos Velez [https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/projects], recorded by Tosca Duo on their CD Dimensions [https://music.apple.com/us/album/dimensions/1414534155]. A link to Carlos’s music is available at https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/about-me.

When Technique Becomes Painful: Revolutionizing Music Education with Kenneth Thompson

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2386835/open_sms] In this episode of the Becoming mBODYed podcast, host Shawn Copeland speaks with Kenneth Thompson, founder of the Musical Arts Center of San Antonio. They discuss the importance of safety and belonging in cultivating creativity and authenticity in the performing arts. Kenneth shares his journey through music education, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to technical development and the modernization of traditional music education practices. They explore the impact of passion on performance, the challenges of injury, and the necessity of change in teaching methods to better serve students in today's world. Becoming mBODYed is a production of and copyrighted by mBODYed, LLC, 2024. www.mbodyed.com [https://www.mbodyed.com] Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/ [https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/] and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566020594221 The intro and exit music is Dark Matter by Carlos Velez [https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/projects], recorded by Tosca Duo on their CD Dimensions [https://music.apple.com/us/album/dimensions/1414534155]. A link to Carlos’s music is available at https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/about-me.

Identity, Belonging, and the Art of Teaching: A Conversation with Dr. Amanda Heim

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2386835/open_sms] Many of us move through our teaching lives switching rooms in the same house. We shift between roles. We improvise. We carry a private mix of doubt, intuition, brilliance, and care. In this episode, Shawn sits down with longtime colleague and former student Dr. Amanda Heim, saxophone professor at Gettysburg College, to revisit how somatic work shaped her teaching and the artistic lives of her students for more than a decade.  Their conversation moves through memory, identity, agency, and the quiet transformations that happen in applied lessons. Together they explore:  • how teaching feels like walking through different rooms of a house  • why shifting between modalities (theory, choir, applied lessons, recruiting) creates cognitive load  • how somatic language demystifies the body and normalizes the musician’s lived experience  • the story behind Amanda’s 13-year injury-free studio • why improvisation is actually advanced preparation, not lack of preparation • the role of self-belonging in artistic confidence • the hidden cost of never saying “good job” to ourselves • imposter feelings as a somatic pattern, not a personal flaw • how students learn agency, identity, and autonomy through embodied pedagogy • what happens when we finally celebrate our own work  This episode offers a rare look inside two careers shaped by Alexander Technique, Body Mapping, and nervous-system-informed teaching. It also opens a door into the deeper conversation emerging across the field: what changes when belonging starts inside the body rather than outside it?  Becoming mBODYed is a production of and copyrighted by mBODYed, LLC, 2024. www.mbodyed.com [https://www.mbodyed.com] Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/ [https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/] and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566020594221 The intro and exit music is Dark Matter by Carlos Velez [https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/projects], recorded by Tosca Duo on their CD Dimensions [https://music.apple.com/us/album/dimensions/1414534155]. A link to Carlos’s music is available at https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/about-me.

BONUS: The mBODYed Somatic Archetypes

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2386835/open_sms] summary In this bonus episode of the Becoming mBODYed podcast, Shawn introduces the concept of somatic archetypes as survival strategies that help individuals navigate their experiences and emotions. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding these archetypes not as fixed identities but as fluid patterns that reflect how our bodies have learned to cope with various situations. By exploring each archetype, listeners are invited to recognize their own patterns and the underlying tenderness within them, ultimately fostering a sense of belonging and self-acceptance. takeaways * Somatic archetypes are survival strategies, not labels. * Belonging must first be biological before it can be cultural. * Endurance is often mistaken for integrity in our lives. * Burnout is a protective mechanism, not a failure. * The imposter syndrome arises from a lack of internal safety. * Disconnection serves as a protective response to overwhelming feelings. * The seeker archetype often escapes into knowledge rather than presence. * Integration involves allowing all parts of ourselves to coexist. * Awareness of our patterns gives us the choice to evolve. * Self-belonging is essential for healing and growth. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Somatic Archetypes 05:16 Understanding Survival Strategies 10:14 Exploring the Over-Efforter Archetype 15:27 The Burned Out Artist 20:15 The Imposter Syndrome 23:48 The Disconnected 27:04 The Seeker 31:50 The Integrator 36:49 Guided Reflection and Conclusion Becoming mBODYed is a production of and copyrighted by mBODYed, LLC, 2024. www.mbodyed.com [https://www.mbodyed.com] Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/ [https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/] and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566020594221 The intro and exit music is Dark Matter by Carlos Velez [https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/projects], recorded by Tosca Duo on their CD Dimensions [https://music.apple.com/us/album/dimensions/1414534155]. A link to Carlos’s music is available at https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/about-me.

Season Opener

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2386835/open_sms] Summary In this Pre-season opener of the Becoming mBODYed podcast, Shawn welcomes listeners to the new season, focusing on the themes of burnout, creativity, and the importance of rest and regulation. The conversation highlights community updates, upcoming courses, and the significance of somatic practices in fostering a sense of belonging and self-awareness. Shawn emphasizes the need for honest conversations in education and the arts, encouraging listeners to reconnect with their bodies and creativity. Becoming mBODYed is a production of and copyrighted by mBODYed, LLC, 2024. www.mbodyed.com [https://www.mbodyed.com] Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/ [https://www.instagram.com/mbodyed/] and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566020594221 The intro and exit music is Dark Matter by Carlos Velez [https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/projects], recorded by Tosca Duo on their CD Dimensions [https://music.apple.com/us/album/dimensions/1414534155]. A link to Carlos’s music is available at https://composercarlosvelez.wixsite.com/carlosvelezmusic/about-me.